Wesley Corpus

in Israel ; a pattern of all good works. Saturday, 7. At noon, I preached at Preston-on-the-Hill ; and in the evening at War- rington. Sunday, 8. The service was at the usual hours. I [April, 1781 came just in time to put a stop to a bad custom, which was creeping in here : A few men, who had fine voices, sang a Psalm which no one knew, in a tune fit for an opera, wherein three, four, or five persons, sung different words at the same time! What an insult upon common sense. What aburlesque upon public worship ! No custom can excuse such a mixture ofpro- faneness and absurdity. Mon. 9.-Desiring to be in Ireland as soon as possible, I hastened to Liverpool, and found a ship ready to sail; but the wind was contrary, till on Thursday morning, theCaptain came in haste, and told us, the windwas come quite fair. So Mr. Floyd, Snowden, Joseph Bradford, and I, with two of our sis- ters, went on board. But scarce were we out at sea,when the wind turned quite foul, and rose higher and higher. In an hour I was so affected, as I had not been for fortyyears before. For two days I could not swallow the quantity ofa pea ofanything solid, and very little of anyliquid. Iwas bruised and sore from head to foot, and ill able to turn me on the bed. All Friday, the storm increasing, the sea of consequence was rougher and rougher. Early on Saturdaymorning, the hatches were closed, which, together with the violent motion, made our horses so tur- bulent, that I was afraid we must have killed them, lest they should damage the ship. Mrs. S. now crept to me, threw her arms over me, and said, " O Sir, we will die together ! " We had by this time three feet water in the hold, though it was an exceeding light vessel. Meantimewe were furiously driving on alee-shore ; and when the Captain cried, " Helm a lee," she would not obey the helm. I called our brethren to prayers ; and we found free access to the throne of grace. Soon after we got, I know not how, into Holyhead harbour, after being suffi- ciently buffeted by the winds andwaves, for twodays and two nights. Themore I considered, the more I was convinced, it was not